The UTSA Roadrunners soldiered through a few rough patches on a warm and muggy Saturday afternoon at Rutledge Stadium.

But after working out for two hours with temperatures in the low 80s in their third of 15 scheduled practices this spring, they seemed content with the result.

“It was our first day in pads, and our first day (when) it was hot, but the guys pushed through it pretty good,” UTSA coach Larry Coker said. “This was a good day today.”

The Roadrunners practiced for about an hour and then scrimmaged in front of about 300 fans.

Coaches held first-team quarterback Eric Soza out of the 11-on-11 phase of the scrimmage and went with backups Tucker Carter and Zach Conque.

The coach explained that Soza has a hamstring issue that “we're kind of nursing along.

“He practiced some, but we didn't want him in team (drills),” Coker said. “The other part is, we need to see those No. 2 quarterbacks. They want to be No. 1 quarterbacks, so this is a good chance for us to look at 'em.”

With Soza entrenched as the starter going into UTSA's third season of football, the spring will be a proving ground for Carter and Conque, a test to determine who will be No. 2 going into fall.

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Both players showed off strong arms in the practice phase of the drills. But both missed a few passes during the 11-on-11 phase, including one throw by Carter that was picked off by sophomore safety Charles Wort and returned for a touchdown.

“You look at it, and Zach is a little bit behind, but he's a redshirt freshman,” Coker said. “The other kid (Carter) is a little ahead, but he should be because he's played junior college ball, and he's been here.”

UTSA's defense is a work in progress with coaches trying to plug the gaps of a unit that yielded 26 touchdown passes last year.

Overall, there seems to be more athleticism in the secondary with newcomers that include Tevin Broussard, a safety, and cornerbacks Andre Brown and Bennett Okotcha.

“A couple of people have said, 'You know, we look good on the back end,'” safeties coach Perry Eliano said. “Really, when you're in it every day, you don't focus on that. We just tell 'em it's a process. But we're excited.

“We feel like we've upgraded athletically.”

Wort, the younger brother of former Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort, earned praise for his special teams play last year. Now he's turning heads at one of the strong safety positions.

“I think he's going to be a good football player,” Coker said. “He's going to be outstanding.”